A twice-monthly column on volunteerism AN INTERNATIONAL non-profit organisation with its sights set on society's underprivileged is planning a ground-breaking project for young volunteers. The Art of Living Society of Hong Kong (AOL) was set up to pursue charitable and community activities aimed at improving the quality of life. 'Principally, we organise a range of programmes for different age groups and special needs groups,' said Sandy Chugani, the head of AOL's Hong Kong offices. 'These might be for individuals suffering from depression, cancer or HIV, or for prisoners.' According to Mr Chugani, the programmes have been effective in reducing or eliminating stress and improving the overall health and well-being of those who take part. AOL has also worked under the international social transformation project, the 5H programme in India and developing countries in Africa, and won plaudits from the World Bank. 'Volunteers have been active in rendering assistance in the aftermath of the tsunami which hit Indonesia and other Asian countries, and the earthquake in Pakistan, as well as doing trauma relief and stress reduction work in Iraq, Kosovo and Beslan,' Mr Chugani said. In Hong Kong, there are plans to enlist the help of younger members of the community to improve the life of people on the margins of society. One programme to be offered by AOL is its youth empowerment seminar. This hones leadership skills in young people, teaches values and empowers them to take responsibility for assisting the underprivileged. Through this seminar, the charity aims to tackle issues such as drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking, violence and juvenile crime. It will also help young people look forward to a brighter future by discovering a new direction and purpose in life. 'We would like to begin this training in a big way, so we can address some of the problems confronting not only young people in Hong Kong but also society in general,' Mr Chugani said. The intention is to work with various charitable or social welfare agencies to support underprivileged sections of the community in whatever way possible. Volunteers should have a basic education and acceptable communication skills. In return, the benefits for those prepared to sacrifice some of their spare time include the chance to work on community welfare projects on the mainland. NAME: The Art of Living Society of Hong Kong MISSION: To improve the quality of life WHERE: Hong Kong and the mainland DO I HAVE TO PAY: No HOW TO JOIN: Call 2599 3501 or 2369 7881